Deal or No Deal?

The Gist
A four-bedroom townhouse with a finished basement, a top-floor rental, a landscaped backyard, a roof deck, and close to 3,000 square feet indoors, plus over 1,000 square feet of outdoor space. The owners, a couple with a young daughter, are relocating for work. They’ve invested nearly $200,000 in updates and renovations since buying it in 2007.

Illustration by Mark Nerys

The Problem: Road Noise
Perched on the corner of Hicks Street, the house borders the western side of the BQE. Windows have to be kept closed because of the noise, and it’s always audible from the yard and the deck.

The Savings
Comparable houses on the other side of the BQE are on the market for about $2.1 million. “I’d ask at least that if it were on the other side of the highway,” says broker Beth Kenkel. “It’s in mint, perfect condition.”

The Rationalization
“When you’re inside the house you really don’t notice,” owner Bill Spiegel says. “When you’re outside, of course, you do.” Plus, Spiegel adds, the previous owner made large structural renovations—including soundproofed windows. “It’s like Fort Knox. He redid the whole structure—steel beams, soundproofing, AC/heating, security system, air filtration—but left the façade. All the stuff that’s typically a nightmare in a Brooklyn brownstone was perfect.”